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Auburn coach says allegations against Newton 'garbage'

Anonymous

Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton (2) reacts at the end of the third quarter against Chattanooga during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn Tigers found themselves defending quarterback Cam Newton for the second time in five days, this time adamantly sticking up for the Heisman hopeful in the wake of allegations of academic cheating when he was at Florida.

"I'm standing up here on a very important week trying to defend something that's garbage," Chizik said. The Tigers face rival Georgia on Saturday, and that's where Newton insists his focus lies.

Foxsports.com reported Monday that Newton was caught cheating three times and was to appear for a hearing in front of Florida's Student Committee facing possible expulsion during the spring semester of 2009.

Newton transferred to Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas, where he played last season. He declined to discuss the latest report, which came on the heels of former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond saying someone claiming to represent the Newton family sought money during his recruitment by the school.

"I'm not going to entertain something that took place not three months, not six months, not a year but two years ago," Newton said. "I'm not going to sit up here and say anything about it, whether I did or did not do it, because I don't want to beat a dead horse talking about it. It's not going to affect me any way, shape or fashion."

Not a problem

It didn't against FCS opponent Chattanooga last weekend, when he passed for four touchdowns and 317 yards, all in the first half. Georgia coach Mark Richt is expecting Newton's best again.

"Usually when a guy starts playing ball or even practicing ball, it doesn't matter what's going on away from the field," Richt said. "That's a haven for an athlete. He gets a chance to be in his element and shut everything out, shut the world out, just go have fun and play some ball."

Newton has denied doing anything wrong in his recruitment. A person familiar with the situation has told The Associated Press that the university has received no letter of inquiry from the NCAA and that an internal review of phone and e-mail records showed no contact with Kenny Rogers, who ESPN.com cited as the man who approached Bond.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the matter, said the university also found nothing improper in the personal and church bank records of Newton's father, Cecil, an Atlanta pastor.

Minutes before Newton addressed the media, Chizik used his opening statement for a lengthy defense of his biggest star. He declined to answer questions about the latest situation.

No privacy

"I'm wasting my time addressing allegations that blow my mind that they're even out there, because there's federal privacy laws that dictate that these things don't get out in public," Chizik said.

Chizik described Newton as a "great human being that comes from a great family" and backed up his quarterback's Heisman Trophy credentials as well as his character.

"He's one of the leaders in the Heisman race because he deserves it. That's fact," Chizik said.

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs also defended Newton from the latest accusation in a strongly worded statement. He reiterated that the quarterback is eligible.

"These allegations and rumors about Cam Newton are unfortunate and sad because they seem intent on tearing down the reputation of a young man who has done everything we've asked him to do," Jacobs said. "Cam has been and continues to be completely honest with us. Cam is, by all accounts, a great kid."